“I marvel at you,” said Carteret.
“Why?”
“Talking of raising a few pounds. There is not a man in the Colony, myself included, who would not be glad to give you----”
I stopped him with a look.
“Tut, tut, man, do not go off half-cocked, I was not going to offer you charity. But if I can put you in the way to get a position that pays----”
“My everlasting thanks are yours,” I interrupted.
“I am about to resign the command of the forces here,” Carteret went on, “for my brother, the Governor, has some plans afoot, and needs my aid elsewhere. I have talked with the men, and they all agree that, after I left, they would have no other captain than yourself. The pay is not large, for the Colony is young yet, but you and Mistress Lucille could live in such comfort as there is here, on it. What say you? Will you take it?”
I could not answer at first. It seemed almost too good to be true. After all our troubles to find a haven at last, and one that promised so much.
“Carteret,” I began, brokenly, “I cannot thank you enough. I----” but there was something in my voice that would not let me go on.
“Then do not try,” he said, cheerfully. “I know how you feel. I will carry your answer to the men. They are waiting for it. The sooner I turn the command of the Colony over to you, the quicker I can get away. Is it yes or no?”